I hear and talk about diversity A LOT in my personal life. The reason it is brought up so much is due to having an interracial marriage. I have been together with my beautiful dark-skinned wife since we were sixteen years old. We have heard all types of extremely kind comments on our “diverse” relationship, but we also hear some really strange ones. Even today, being diverse and responding well to diversity is not the first instinct to some. We actually have begun to tally how many times our servers at restaurants ask if our bills are separate or together (which is quite frequent). 

However, diversity is more than just a different skin color. Diversity simply means being different. There are all types of diversities ranging from age, race, economic, gender, etc. Besides my personal life, as a church leader I also talk a lot about diversity. Over the last few decades our society and churches have been aiming to become more diverse and embrace each others’ differences. We have begun to realize the value of diversity, and we want our churches/kids’ ministries to be diverse. But why? 

Two reasons why it is important to value diversity in your kids’ ministry: 

1. Jesus was diverse: A large chunk of Jesus’ ministry dealt with diversity in different areas. Jesus dealt with racial diversity numerous times between the Jews and Samaritans. He dealt with social diversity when he interacted with those who were shunned due to their sickness and disabilities. Jesus praised the children, revealing generational diversity. He bridged the gap between economic diversities by ministering to the wealthy and the poor. It is clear that diversities were present, and it is clear that Jesus was intentional in his ministry approach to reach all the various differences in people. 

2. Your community is diverse: Look around—diversity exists everywhere and at every level of life, yet there are still churches and ministries that disregard this. The church should reflect the community it is in, not the leadership over it. A child should learn to be able to pray for AND with anyone “different” from them. The world around them is diverse, and in order for them to spread the gospel to others, they should learn the gospel in a diverse environment. Diversity gives us advantage in the Great Commission. 

REFLECTION

Have you made your environment comfortable to diverse groups? Are there different race/ethnicities represented in your nursery toys/books? Do you offer events that both the poor and wealthy can attend? Does your leadership team have individuals on it that can understand and minister to diverse cultures? 

Does your kids’ ministry accurately reflect its community? 

Side thought: Do not make becoming diverse a check mark on your to-do list. Being a diverse ministry is more than simply placing a multi-cultural image on your website. It should be a value of your ministry, something you intentionally grain into your ministry’s DNA to bridge the gaps in your community to create a oneness in Christ. 

“Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:13.